STEVE BRUCE has promised to fight the FA after striker Yannick Sagbo was charged for praising Nicolas Anelka on Twitter after his controversial 'quenelle' gesture.

Yannick Sagbo was charged for praising Nicolas Anelka on Twitter[GETTY]

French-born Ivory Coast international Sagbo faces a misconduct hearing on Tuesday after posting a message hours after the former West Brom striker's goal celebration, which is considered to be anti-Semitic.

Sagbo, 25, posted a picture of Anelka performing the gesture and wrote 'legend'.

Sagbo, who joined Hull in the summer from French club Evian, speaks little English and Bruce said the club would contest the charge, arguing it was a misunderstanding.

Bruce said: "It's difficult with Yannick, we need to use an interpreter. He doesn't speak a lot of English. It's broken.

"He doesn't understand why he's been charged. He tweeted that Nicolas Anelka's a legend. In some people's eyes, he is. That's nothing to do with his gesture. He's been a great player.

"But we've now got into the realms of what offends people and what doesn't. If we have offended anyone, on behalf of the club, I can only apologise."

It's difficult with Yannick, we need to use an interpreter. He doesn't speak a lot of English. It's broken

Steve Bruce

If found guilty, Sagbo is likely to face a one-match ban. Hull are likely to appeal, meaning Sagbo will still be available for the FA Cup semi-final next Sunday.

Bruce said he had warned his players about using Twitter but said he would not ban them from posting on social media.

Bruce said: "We've spoken to the players about it. They've got to watch what they're putting out there because it's for the world to see.

"I don't think you can ban it. We can't look after them 24 hours a day, however, they are in the spotlight like never before. In my day, we didn't want to tell the world what we were up to.

Nikica Jelavic has scored four goals since joining Hull in January from Everton [GETTY]

"Everybody seems to want to tell the world 'I'm going to Asda to buy a bag of potatoes'. How anybody gets off on that is beyond me but these young ones do it."

Hull can take a significant step closer to safety with victory over Swansea City at the KC Stadium today and Bruce has told his players the clash is more important than the FA Cup tie with Sheffield United eight days later.

Bruce said: "It's a bigger game for us all. If you've got anything about you, the last thing you want is going back to play in the Championship. That should be their biggest spur. This is the place to play and I'm determined that we'll make it through."